Focus facts on partnership, 01/2012

CENTER FOR LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP
OKLAHOMA’S FEDERALLY DESIGNATED
UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (UCEDD)
January 2012
Resources for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism Speaks Launches Visual Supports Toolkit Autism Speaks recently launched its “Visual Supports and Autism Spectrum Disorder” toolkit. The toolkit is designed for parents, caregivers and professionals who want to support a person of any age to communicate better by using pictures and other visual supports. The toolkit may be particularly helpful for individuals who are non‐verbal or have difficulty understanding instructions and social cues. It includes step‐by‐step instructions on how to use visual supports, so it is not necessary to be familiar with visual supports to use the toolkit. Spanish translation of the toolkit is expected in the near future. For more information or to download the toolkit, visit this website: www.autismspeaks.org/science/resources‐programs/autism‐treatment‐network.
Finding Apps for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Special Needs Many parents and professionals use apps for the iPad and other devices to help people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and special needs develop skills. There are apps for a variety of skills, including communication and motor skills. Below is a list of websites that may be helpful for finding useful apps for specific needs:  iPad Apps for Autism is a Google blog that contains a spreadsheet of apps for people with ASD, along with reviews, links and prices. The spreadsheet is maintained by a parent, an adult with autism and a speech‐language pathologist. View the blog and get the spreadsheet at www.squidalicious.com/.  iAutism.info was started by parents in Spain and lists apps for Apple and Android devices by skill area. The website is available in both English and Spanish, and the list includes information about whether apps are provided in multiple languages.  a4cwsn.com, which stands for “Apps for Children with Special Needs,” provides video demonstrations and reviews for 500 apps. The videos are made by a father of a son with autism and a daughter with epilepsy.  SNApps4Kids.com lists apps for children with special needs, categorized by skill or topic. Some of the apps listed are professionally reviewed and the site is maintained by a volunteer group of parents, therapists, doctors and teachers. PLEASE NOTE: End Date for focus facts Hard Copies In an effort reduce costs and be more environment‐friendly, March 2012 will be the last month that the Center for Learning and Leadership will mail hard copies of focus facts ‐‐except for readers who indicated their need to receive a hard copy by returning the card that was included in the April 2011 issue. If you receive a hard copy and need to continue receiving it, or if you need to provide us with your e‐mail address, please e‐mail Melissa‐Fenrick@ouhsc.edu. Early Identification Module Available for Autism Spectrum Disorders
The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) developed a module about early identification of ASD. The module contains videos that demonstrate early signs of ASD, case studies and other resources that may be helpful to professionals who work with young children. The module is available by visiting www.autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/.
Additional Resources on the Web  Oklahoma Autism Network www.okautism.org/families/autism_resources.asp  Easter Seals www.easterseals.com/autism  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/autism
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
February 16‐17: Person Centered Thinking training, 9:30 a.m.‐4 p.m., Stillwater Holiday Inn and Suites, 715 S. Country Club Rd., Stillwater. Free registration must be received by February 1. Stipends may be available for self‐advocates and family members. Contact Mary Katherine Long at
Mary‐Long@ouhsc.edu
or 405‐271‐4500, ext. 41012 for more information. Sensory Friendly Films are provided at Quail Springs and Crossroads theaters in Oklahoma City for children with autism or other disabilities, their family members and anyone who would like to attend. All showings are at 10 a.m. and tickets are $4
or $5. Visit www.amctheatres.com/sff/ for more information.
Upcoming showings:
○ February 25: The Secret World of Arrietty ○ March 10: Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
March 9: Oklahoma Braille Challenge, Oklahoma School for the Blind, 3300 Gibson St., Muskogee. Call 918‐781‐8200 or visit
www.osb.k12.ok.us/index.htm
for additional information. March 26‐27: Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, Honolulu, HI. Visit
www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/
for more information or to register. NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. P0STAGE
PAID
OKLA.CITY, OKLA
PERMIT #220
focus facts
Center for Learning and Leadership/UCEDD
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
P.O. Box 26901, ROB 342
Oklahoma City, OK 73126
focus facts is published for the Center for Learning and Leader-ship, Oklahoma’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). It is mailed to a statewide and national network of over 1,300 people interested in developmental disabilities. If you would like to submit informa-tion to be published in the newslet-ter, please e-mail or mail our Editor. Be sure to include the source, de-scription, and contact information relevant to the information you are submitting. Email: Learn2Lead-UCEDD@ouhsc.edu focus facts is supported by grant #90DD0543 from the U.S. Depart-ment of Health and Human Services Administration on Developmental Disabilities. Additional support is provided by Oklahoma co-sponsors: OU College of Medicine, The Univer-sity of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and project partners: East Central University, The University of Tulsa, and the Oklahoma Depart-ment of Human Services. The Uni-versity of Oklahoma publishes this newsletter in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations. The University of Oklahoma, in com-pliance with all Federal and State applicable laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, prac-tices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, em-ployment, financial aid, and educa-tional services.

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CENTER FOR LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP
OKLAHOMA’S FEDERALLY DESIGNATED
UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (UCEDD)
January 2012
Resources for People with Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism Speaks Launches Visual Supports Toolkit Autism Speaks recently launched its “Visual Supports and Autism Spectrum Disorder” toolkit. The toolkit is designed for parents, caregivers and professionals who want to support a person of any age to communicate better by using pictures and other visual supports. The toolkit may be particularly helpful for individuals who are non‐verbal or have difficulty understanding instructions and social cues. It includes step‐by‐step instructions on how to use visual supports, so it is not necessary to be familiar with visual supports to use the toolkit. Spanish translation of the toolkit is expected in the near future. For more information or to download the toolkit, visit this website: www.autismspeaks.org/science/resources‐programs/autism‐treatment‐network.
Finding Apps for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Special Needs Many parents and professionals use apps for the iPad and other devices to help people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and special needs develop skills. There are apps for a variety of skills, including communication and motor skills. Below is a list of websites that may be helpful for finding useful apps for specific needs:  iPad Apps for Autism is a Google blog that contains a spreadsheet of apps for people with ASD, along with reviews, links and prices. The spreadsheet is maintained by a parent, an adult with autism and a speech‐language pathologist. View the blog and get the spreadsheet at www.squidalicious.com/.  iAutism.info was started by parents in Spain and lists apps for Apple and Android devices by skill area. The website is available in both English and Spanish, and the list includes information about whether apps are provided in multiple languages.  a4cwsn.com, which stands for “Apps for Children with Special Needs,” provides video demonstrations and reviews for 500 apps. The videos are made by a father of a son with autism and a daughter with epilepsy.  SNApps4Kids.com lists apps for children with special needs, categorized by skill or topic. Some of the apps listed are professionally reviewed and the site is maintained by a volunteer group of parents, therapists, doctors and teachers. PLEASE NOTE: End Date for focus facts Hard Copies In an effort reduce costs and be more environment‐friendly, March 2012 will be the last month that the Center for Learning and Leadership will mail hard copies of focus facts ‐‐except for readers who indicated their need to receive a hard copy by returning the card that was included in the April 2011 issue. If you receive a hard copy and need to continue receiving it, or if you need to provide us with your e‐mail address, please e‐mail Melissa‐Fenrick@ouhsc.edu. Early Identification Module Available for Autism Spectrum Disorders
The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) developed a module about early identification of ASD. The module contains videos that demonstrate early signs of ASD, case studies and other resources that may be helpful to professionals who work with young children. The module is available by visiting www.autismpdc.fpg.unc.edu/.
Additional Resources on the Web  Oklahoma Autism Network www.okautism.org/families/autism_resources.asp  Easter Seals www.easterseals.com/autism  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/autism
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
February 16‐17: Person Centered Thinking training, 9:30 a.m.‐4 p.m., Stillwater Holiday Inn and Suites, 715 S. Country Club Rd., Stillwater. Free registration must be received by February 1. Stipends may be available for self‐advocates and family members. Contact Mary Katherine Long at
Mary‐Long@ouhsc.edu
or 405‐271‐4500, ext. 41012 for more information. Sensory Friendly Films are provided at Quail Springs and Crossroads theaters in Oklahoma City for children with autism or other disabilities, their family members and anyone who would like to attend. All showings are at 10 a.m. and tickets are $4
or $5. Visit www.amctheatres.com/sff/ for more information.
Upcoming showings:
○ February 25: The Secret World of Arrietty ○ March 10: Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
March 9: Oklahoma Braille Challenge, Oklahoma School for the Blind, 3300 Gibson St., Muskogee. Call 918‐781‐8200 or visit
www.osb.k12.ok.us/index.htm
for additional information. March 26‐27: Pacific Rim International Conference on Disability and Diversity, Honolulu, HI. Visit
www.pacrim.hawaii.edu/
for more information or to register. NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. P0STAGE
PAID
OKLA.CITY, OKLA
PERMIT #220
focus facts
Center for Learning and Leadership/UCEDD
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
P.O. Box 26901, ROB 342
Oklahoma City, OK 73126
focus facts is published for the Center for Learning and Leader-ship, Oklahoma’s University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). It is mailed to a statewide and national network of over 1,300 people interested in developmental disabilities. If you would like to submit informa-tion to be published in the newslet-ter, please e-mail or mail our Editor. Be sure to include the source, de-scription, and contact information relevant to the information you are submitting. Email: Learn2Lead-UCEDD@ouhsc.edu focus facts is supported by grant #90DD0543 from the U.S. Depart-ment of Health and Human Services Administration on Developmental Disabilities. Additional support is provided by Oklahoma co-sponsors: OU College of Medicine, The Univer-sity of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and project partners: East Central University, The University of Tulsa, and the Oklahoma Depart-ment of Human Services. The Uni-versity of Oklahoma publishes this newsletter in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal laws and regulations. The University of Oklahoma, in com-pliance with all Federal and State applicable laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, prac-tices, or procedures. This includes but is not limited to admissions, em-ployment, financial aid, and educa-tional services.